Electric switch



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. M. GOODRIDGB.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

No. 476,792. Patented June 14,1892.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets'Sheet 2. W. M. GOODRIDGE. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

No. 476,792. v Patented June 14, 1892.

WLZTLCJJe-I' Inventor:

Gooardcly & m 6% fiyK/{WW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM M. GOODRIDGE, OF HIGHLAND PARK, ASSIGNOR TO THE \VESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,792, dated June 14, 1892.

Serial No. 288,573; (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. GOODRIDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Highland Park, in the county of Lake and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Electric Switches, (Case No. 12,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to electric switches more especially designed for use at telephoneexchange stations as a part of the operators outfit. It is sometimes desirable to loop the operators telephone into one circuit and then into another Without leaving the first circuit open. The apparatus for doing this work should be brought within as small a compass as possible and should be at the same time strong and durable and certain in its action. Such a device forms the subject of my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an electric-circuit changer embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view from below of the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an application of my circuit-changer. Fig. 5 is a perspective View from below, showing the preferable manner of connecting the movable contacts with the fixed terminals of the circuit.

Like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference in the different figures.

The frame a may be of metal and is prov vided with bearings Z) Z) for the pivot c of the pivoted block cZ. Upon this block are mounted the circuit-changing contact-springs c f and g h. Upon the end of frame a is mounted the block of rubber i, which is provided with a slot, in which slot the free ends of springs cf and g it rest. Metallic contacts 7:; Z and m n are provided upon one side or edge of the slot and contact-pieces 0, p, and g on the opposite side of the slot. A spring 1' normally holds the block 0 in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that the contact-springs will be forced against the contacts upon the upper edge of the slot. By means of push-button s the tension of spring a" may be overcome, so as to separate the contact-sprlngs upon the upper side of the slot and close said contact-springs against the lower contactpieces 0, p, and g. In the diagram (see Fig. 4) the springs e f g hare shown separated from contacts 7t Z and m n and closed upon contacts 0,17, and g. It will be observed that contact on is permanently connected electrically with the contact 0 and that contact )tlS connected permanently with contact 93.

My circuit-changer is operated by simply pressing upon the push-button s, so as to carry the free ends of the contact-springs from one set of contacts to another set. It is evident that various circuit connections maybe made with the contact-springs and the fixed contacts. My switch, however, is of special ad vantage when it is desired to alternately loop an instrument, as a telephone, into one circuit and then into another without leaving the loop open, as is often desirable or necessary in telephone-exchange systems. lhus a trunk-wire 25 may be connected with the springs g It, a pair of cords a with the springs e f, and the operators telephone between united contacts on o and n p. The telephone may thus be looped into the circuit of the cords, as shown in Fig. 4f, while circuit tis closed through contact q. On changing the positions of the switch the telephone is looped into circuit 25, while the strands of cords it are united through the contacts Z, permanently connected together.

The metallic piece 7t Z is preferably of the form shown in Fig. 3, in order that contactsprings e f may be normally closed against the same, so as to complete the electrical connection between them through the medium of the contacts or contact-piece is Z. Contact pieces m a are included between contacts 70 Z, so as to be opposite springs g h, respectively. Contact q is included between contacts 0 1), so as to be opposite the springs g h on the other side of the slot from contacts m n. The contacts 0 p are respectively opposite springs efand on the opposite side of the slot from contacts 7a Z. The contacts are thus brought within the smallest compass possible and in such relation to the movable contact-spring that an instrument connected between contact p a and contact 0 m may be readily looped into either one of two circuits 6 or a without leaving either of said loops open.

As shown in Fig. 5, the movable contacts 6 f and g h are connected with fixed contacts 6 f and g 7t. respectively, by the spiral springs f and g 7L2.

A little slack in the connecting-wires of the circuits, it is evident, would make the spiral-coils unnecessary.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, with the contact-piece 7t Z, of the contacts mot, included between the outer portions of piece 7i; Z, the contact q, opposite contacts m a and between contacts 0 placed opposite, respectively, to the outer portions of contact-piece 7i; Z, contacts m o, and also contacts 7t 3), being permanently connected together, and movable contacts 6 f and g h, adapted to be moved together from the contacts on one side to the contacts on the other side thereof, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A eircuit-changing device consisting in the combination, with the pivoted block carrying the four contact-pieces in the same plane, of a rubber block provided with a slot through which the free ends of said springs are inserted, contacts arranged upon the opposite edges of said slot, a spring for holding the contact-springs against the contacts on one edge, and a push-key for overcoming the resistance of said spring and moving the block on its pivot to separate the contact springs from one line of contacts and close said springs upon the other line orset of contacts on the opposite side of the slot,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with the circuit t, connected with movable springs or contacts 9 71,, of the circuit a, connected with the springs or movable contacts efof a circuit including an electrical instrument connected between the contacts 17 7t and 0 m, the contact-piece 7.; Z, and the contact-piece q, the movable contacts of and g h being in the same line or plane and adapted to be moved from contacts Mm '12 on one side to contacts 017 g on the other, whereby the electrical instrument may be looped into circuits 6 u, alternately, without leaving either of said circuits open.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of September, A. D. 1888.

\VILLIAM ill. GOODRIDGE.

\Vitnesses:

GEORGE 1. BARTON, CHAS. G. HAWLEY. 

